ASM International N.V. introduced the SONORA® vertical furnace system with dual reactor chambers for 300mm wafers. The system's dual boat reactors produce the highest available throughput in its class, increasing reactor utilization to virtually 100%, while ensuring the lowest capex. The new SONORA® is fully compatible with the original A412™, so existing process recipes are easily transferred, accelerating system qualification and ramp up.

System deliveries have begun to multiple customers globally, among them leaders in advanced logic, and power device manufacturing. ASM's predecessor A412™ vertical furnace system has a proven track record of more than 1,000 reactors shipped to customers worldwide and over 22 years of maturity in semiconductor manufacturing. The new SONORA® has a novel system architecture that maximizes floor space productivity as well as service area.

Its dedicated process modules have individually controlled high purity mini environments. The company's innovative gas injection system for low pressure processing provides the best uniformities of deposited films between the individual wafers at larger load sizes. These larger process wafer load sizes combined with the updated control system, new robots, faster wafer cooldown, faster boat exchange modules generate up to 30% more productivity, compared to its predecessor.

Higher productivity also results in lower energy and chemical usage per wafer. Special attention was given to the design for serviceability leading to a spacious access for all maintenance activities. The new system has been further modernized with an intuitive graphical user interface, predictive maintenance by advanced control diagnostics, and plug & play installation.

Customers can count on the SONORA delivering increased reliability and better ease of use with production output that achieves better repeatability, productivity, and time utilization. Like its predecessor, the SONORA offers a comprehensive portfolio of process applications including low pressure chemical vapor deposition processes like doped silicon and silicon nitride films, diffusion processes such as wet oxidation and anneal processes, as well as a leading portfolio of atomic layer deposition materials.